Johnston, Jean Agnes

The death of Jean Agnes Johnston occurred at The Lady Minto Hospital on April 2, 2012. Born in Glassville, New Brunswick on February 16, 1920, Jean was the daughter of the late Clement Wilson and Myrtle Henrietta (Peterson) Perry. Jean was the eldest and the final survivor of six siblings, Frances, Arthur (Pat), Mary, Jacquie, and Mabel. Jean attended Normal School in Fredericton in 1938 and went on to teach in Tracy and later at her home school in Glassville. She met and later married Tilley Maurice Johnston in Tracy in May of 1941.

After Tilley returned from overseas, they lived in St. John with their two daughters. In 1948 they moved to Northern Alberta to teach on the Provincial Metis Colonies for seven years. With their daughters, they settled in Edmonton where they both continued working for the Provincial Government until their retirement in 1973.

They had discovered Salt Spring Island while on vacation in the early 1960’s and bought a piece of land on Roland Road, where they eventually built their retirement dream home and spent many happy years.

Jean was active in the Hiking Club and Birdwatching Club, but was most happy with her quilting club, where she formed many friendships. Jean was an avid knitter and craftsperson and her work was often entered in Christmas, Summer and Fall Fairs.

After Tilley’s passing Jean eventually moved to a residence in The Kingfisher where she spent many happy years close to her friends and favourite coffee shops in Ganges.

Jean spent the last year and a half in Extended Care at Lady Minto Hospital where her life was made comfortable by a warm and caring staff and the many volunteers.

She is survived by her daughter Sandra (grandson Geoff), daughter Heather Niven (Robert), granddaughter Darcy Berwick (Dan), great grandchildren Abigail and Griffin, granddaughter Erin (great granddaughter Rhowena), grandson Patrick Niven (Jacquie) and great granddaughter Delaney. She also leaves a special niece, Kathy Perry from Brampton, and close friend of many years Shirley Martineau Rogers, of Edmonton.

A Celebration of Life will be announced for sometime in May. The family suggests in lieu of flowers that donations be made in Jean’s name to the Lady Minto Hospital.

Richard Curtis Willmott

1930 – 2012

Born to missionary-teacher parents on March 19th, 1930 in Chungking, West China, Dick had a very active and fascinating life. 

He came to North America with his family for a furlough year in 1936/37 and left China again for a second one in 1943, but due to the Second World War didn’t arrive here until 1944 and then remained to continue his education: a B.A. in Mathematics from Swarthmore College in 1952 and an M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from Princeton University in 1954. Canada, his father’s home country, was his next place of residence and for the following six years he worked at Canadian Marconi and International Syscoms in Montreal as a radio engineer. In 1960 he decided to return to his first love, mathematics, and came to the University of British Columbia to start the studies that led to a Ph.D. in 1965. For the next 25 years Dick did research in and taught mathematics at University College in London, England, l’Universite de Montreal in Quebec, Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, the University of Zambia in Lusaka, and the University of Essex in Colchester, England.

However, Dick’s academic activities were always interspersed with numerous other interests and pursuits. Being very athletic he played soccer and field hockey into his adult years, and was an avid rock-climber and mountaineer. Two of his adventures involved traversing Mt. Victoria in the Canadian Rockies and attempting to summit Mt. Waddington in the BC Coastal Range. Interested in airplanes from an early age he got his pilot’s license in his twenties, and later built and flew a small 2-seater Kitfox from Ontario to British Columbia.  Dick was an excellent folk-dancer with a particular fondness for Israeli and Balkan rhythms and fancy footwork–both of which he taught, and along with two others he once graced Vancouver’s Queen Elizabeth Theatre stage dancing as a Bulgarian. Also high on his list was choral singing, and from the early fifties until last Christmas Dick sang in numerous choirs–both large and small.  Woodworking, travel and volunteering filled many a day after his retirement and move to Salt Spring Island in 1999, and it was here that he learned to identify numerous  edible wild mushrooms, for which he loved foraging.

Over the years Dick’s thoughtful and inquisitive mind led him to think deeply about world events and to a lifelong opposition to racism, war, and social inequality.  He cared about other people and the world we live in, and did what he could to better it.

On August 2, 2012 Dick died of gastric cancer at Salt Spring’s Lady Minto Hospital. He will be very sorely missed by his wife of 51 years, Jill; his children Ian, Michele, and Derek; and his siblings Joy, Don, and Bill.   The family extends sincere thanks to Dr. Magda Leon, and the many palliative-care nurses and caring hospice volunteers who made Dick’s last weeks as comfortable as possible. There will be no funeral as per his request, but contributions in Dick’s memory to the Salt Spring Island Conservancy (P.O. Box 722, SSI, BC, V8K 2W3) where he was a volunteer for many years would be greatly appreciated.  Carpe diem!

May 7, 1942 Edmonton –  

Dec. 29, 2011 Salt Spring Island

John enjoyed his work as a Psychoanalyst and made significant contributions to the field working at the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal, teaching students at McGill, sitting on Canada-wide research committees and in private practice in Montreal and Salt Spring.

He also loved outdoor pursuits and being on the water. He built the 39 ft. sailboat Touch The Clouds and sailed from Montreal to Salt Spring via the Galapagos, Marquises and Panama. He sailed the west coast while living for over two decades on his boat mainly powered by wind and solar energy and rainwater collection, wanting low impact on the earth.

He loved the connection with nature he found rowing into Ganges Harbour early each morning, and spent many hours following his interest in the behaviour of birds.

John believed strongly that young children should be treated with utmost kindness and had high regard for early childhood education.

He was appreciated and loved by many friends and by those who worked with him.

And to all those people who worked with John, he loved you, recognized your beauty and strength, knew you as the finest people, and had great respect for each of you.

He is survived by his mother Noreen Christian, sister Maureen Lloyd, many nieces, nephews, and cousins across Canada, his loving partner Elizabeth Buchanan and her daughter Elizabeth Woods.

A Gathering in memory of John will be held Saturday Jan. 28, 3 – 5 P.M. Please RSVP to Carol Brown at 250-537-1224. In lieu of flowers, a donation to a Salt Spring preschool, daycare or a Waldorf school would be greatly appreciated .

Marks Marion (nee Smith) peacefully passed away on December 27th 2011 at University of Alberta Hospital Edmonton Alberta at the age of 70, wife of late Chris (2009) and beloved mother of Anthony, Terry Lynn and Clare Marks (Michael). Darling to her grandchildren Mackenzie, Emma Jarae, Tyler and Annaka. Survived by her sisters Barbara (John) Scott, BC and Ellen Christian, UK, brother in law Kevin Marks, BC, sister in law Tina Gray and mother in law Jean Marks, UK. She will be greatly missed by nieces and nephews Debbie Graves (Paul), UK, Gary (Judith) Scott, AUS, Robert (Annalisa) Scott, USA, Sue (David) Burrows, USA, Phil (Taryn ) Marks, BC, Michael (Kelly) Christian, UK, and Christopher Marks, BC. Predeceased by her parents Bill Smith and Elsie Ireland. Marion will be greatly missed by all that knew her and hearts she touched. A celebration of Marion’s life will be held at Seba Beach Christian Fellowship Church in Seba Beach Alberta on January 7th 2012 at 2 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to STARS or any charity of your choice.

July 20, 1953 – December 21, 2011

Born in Nakusp, B.C., lived in Needles, Williams Lake and then 41 years on Salt Spring. He leaves behind his loving daughters, Tracy, Bridgette (Troy) and Sophie; granddaughters Cleo and Emma. He also leaves brothers Rick and Ken (Jayne), sisters Donna (Ted), Brenda (Pat), Barb (Roy), many nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles, cousins and many friends. Predeceased by his parents Bert and Bernice. Only Doug could say what he did and get away with it. He had an incredible way of helping people. Will be forever missed.

Celebration of life at the Farmers’ Institute, January 7, 2012 from 12 – 3pm. Potluck.

May 28, 1939 – December 17, 2011

The last trip we made together with our Border Collie Rain, we saw Jasper in the sunshine of September.

We headed for Edmonton the next morning, but our Sprinter camper van, affectionately known as Benny, coasted to a dead stop right in front of an automotive repair shop. Bill got out and talked to the mechanics as he always talked to everyone he met — with respect for what they did. They got us back on the Yellowhead Highway heading east, across a Prairie so beautiful in early fall. One could see 17 miles in all directions, or so Bill told me, and it was like flying in a small aircraft.

The cancer had returned but once again Bill would not allow it to conquer him and we continued on our journey to Saskatoon. Earlier, his good friend and physician Dr. Ron Reznick, poised at the starting line of the most arduous leg of the Tour de France, had written ‘Bill’ on the calf of his leg in ballpoint pen. Bill had told him, “Ronny, you can do it.” It had become his mantra too.

We returned home to Salt Spring Island from Saskatchewan just before Bill began to feel ill again. Always a fighter, he never gave up or gave in. Bill, now on the most adventurous journey of all, would still provide that gentle guidance as he always had, along with steadfast encouragement for all of us that loved him to move forward.

Although not a religious man, Bill was a very spiritual one who saw the wonderment in everything nature could provide. “His life was gentle, and the elements, so mixed in that nature might stand up and say to the entire world: ‘This was a man!’” William Shakespeare.

New found friends visiting Salt Spring Island for the first time from Brittany described the home that Bill built this way. “The organic nature of your home reflected the creative life-harmony that was the product of a gentle heart and a sensitive mind. A kindness reflected in the fact, that while we were with you, an injured deer had recognized your home as a sanctuary for it too at it’s time of need.”

It was once said that if Bill Yeo couldn’t build it, then it couldn’t be built.

As I write this and think of the mark that my husband left on the world, I realize it cannot be measured or quantified. His true gift was having the foresight to see in people what they couldn’t see in themselves and then helping them realize that potential beyond what they could ever imagine. For those of you who Bill mentored and guided, continue to allow him to be that reasoning voice in your head that always pushes you toward excellence, honesty and integrity. These are the things he valued most.

Bill left many marks on this world. He was the love of my life.

For those he knew — feel privileged. For those he loved — feel truly blessed.

~ Jacki Susan Yeo, December 2011

Mel Marchbank passed away December 15, 2011 at Lady Minto Hospital on Salt Spring Island. Born in Shamrock, Sk., but grew up in Moose Jaw, Sk., he married Muriel Elaine Nielson in May 1950. He worked in many fields, retired at 45 and moved to BC. Fishing,operating a sawmill and foundry were a few of his hobbies. Predecease by his wife, Elaine in 2004, he will be missed by his 3 daughters, Beverly (Alec), Vicki and Brenda, 5 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren. No service by request. The family thanks Dr. David Woodley, hospital staff and friends for their support.

Doris Douglas passed away on December 12, 2011 at the Lady Minto Hospital on Salt Spring Island in her 97th year.  She was born in Dublin, served as a Wren in the Royal Navy in WW II and came to Canada in 1953.  She lived across the country, including Inuvik, settling into her lovely Salt Spring home in 1989.  There, she lovingly landscaped the entire garden and kept an immaculate home.  She was fiercely independent to the end, an avid gardner and voracious reader, a gracious hostess, and a wonderful friend.  She will be deeply missed by her daughter Marion Allan (Bruce Preston), her grand-daughter Michelle Toews (Terrance), her great grand-daughter Emily Rebecca, and her nieces Jeanette Turk (Buzz) and Gillian Donovan.

Marion and Bruce wish to thank Dr. Beaver and the hospital staff for their loving care of Doris, the amazing volunteers of the Salt Spring Hospice Foundation for their vigil and support, and dear friends Margaret, Bill, and Thomas Wakefield for their endless support.